Main Stage collapse

Hey all, here’s what happened to me this evening at Bluesfest.

I had been booted from the media pit of the MBNA stage this evening, right before Cheap Trick began their set. The media guy didn’t seemed to think a university newspaper was big enough to deserve access? So I bitterly wandered into the crowd and snapped some photos regardless. Then I looked back and saw the same ominous sky I saw the night of the Black Keys. I Decided, “fuck this,” my gear was breaking, Bluesfest wasn’t letting me shoot, and it was about to piss rain. Time to go home, crack a beer and edit. So I started to leave. Around 7:15 and 15m from the exit I turned and watched the MBNA Stage fall on Cheap Trick. My camera was in my bag so I missed the actual collapse but I whipped out my pass and camera and rushed forward to photograph the aftermath and damage. Needless to say, Death Cab for Cutie who was slated to take the stage after didn’t play…

Ottawa, ON - Stunned concert goers leave the site of the MBNA Stage at Bluesfest on Sunday July 17, 2011. The stage collapsed shortly after 7pm during a performance by Cheap Trick. The band sustained only minor cuts and bruises. (Adam Dietrich/the charlatan)

Ottawa, ON - Stunned concert goers leave the site of the MBNA Stage at Bluesfest on Sunday July 17, 2011. The stage collapsed shortly after 7pm during a performance by Cheap Trick. The band sustained only minor cuts and bruises. (Adam Dietrich/the charlatan)

Ottawa, ON - A member of the Canadian Ski Patrol climbs onto the wreckage of the MBNA stage at Bluesfest. The stage collapsed shortly after 7pm on Sunday July 17, 2011 after a wind and rain storm swept the concert area suddenly during a performance by Cheap Trick, no major injuries were reported. (Adam Dietrich/the charlatan)

Ottawa, ON - Police, security and Bluesfest personnel rush onto the wreckage of the MBNA stage. The stage collapsed during a performance by Cheap Trick on Sunday July 17, 2011, no major injuries were reported. (Adam Dietrich/the charlatan)

Ottawa, ON - A security guard rushes past the wreckage of the MBNA stage following its collapse during a performance by Cheap Trick on Sunday July 17, 2011. No one was seriously hurt although members of the band sustained minor cuts and bruises. (Adam Dietrich/the charlatan)

Ottawa, ON - Ottawa Police try to direct people away from the site of the collapsed MBNA stage at Bluesfest, while paramedics bring in a gurney. The stage collapsed during a performance by Cheap Trick on Sunday July 17, 2011. No one was seriously hurt although members of the band sustained minor cuts and bruises. (Adam Dietrich/the charlatan)

Ottawa, ON - People leave the site of the collapsed MBNA stage at Bluesfest which collapsed during a performance by Cheap Trick on Sunday July 17, 2011. No one was seriously hurt although members of the band sustained minor cuts and bruises. (Adam Dietrich/the charlatan)

Ottawa, ON - Wet concert goers leave the site of the MBNA Stage at Bluesfest on Sunday July 17, 2011. The stage collapsed shortly after 7pm during a performance by Cheap Trick. The band sustained only minor cuts and bruises. (Adam Dietrich/the charlatan)

Ottawa, ON - Fans of Joe Satriani attempt to tough out the inclement weather at Bluesfest. Satriani and Deathcab For Cutie and others were cancelled after the MBNA stage collapsed during a performance by Cheap Trick on Sunday July 17, 2011. (Adam Dietrich/the charlatan)

Ottawa, ON - Concert goers hide from the rain at Bluesfest on Sunday July 17, 2011. (Adam Dietrich/the charlatan)

Ottawa, ON - People flee Bluesfest while emergency vehicles are reflected in the glass of the War Museum. The concert site was evacuated after a sudden gust of wind blew down the MBNA stage during a performance by Cheap Trick. No one was seriously hurt although the band sustained minor cuts and bruises. (Adam Dietrich/the charlatan)

So yeah….

I’m gonna relax a bit. Work on a stats lab but photos from Lupe and Cheap Trick’s performance before will be up shortly.